GB2247832A

GB2247832A - A clothes drying rack

Info

Publication number: GB2247832A
Application number: GB9019800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Haison Yuen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-09-11
Filing date: 1990-09-11
Publication date: 1992-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-11
Also published as: GB2247832B; GB9019800D0

Abstract

A retractable clothes drying rack comprises a pair of elongate longitudinal members 11a, 11b and a pair of elongate lateral members 12, 12b, releaseably fixed together to define a rectangular frame for attachment to the outside wall of a building via mounts 34. Across the two elongate lateral members lie a plurality of rod assemblies 30 each of which has a solid shaft carrying a carrier sleeve. The carrier sleeves each have an attachment fin extending outwardly. Each attachment fin has a plurality of carrier holes for clothes hangers. A plurality of pivot assemblies 21 are provided for adjustably positioning the rod assemblies and elongate lateral members at one side. Each pivot assembly has a mounting clip 25 in alignment with its bracket for releaseably securing the other side in a position. An awning cover assembly 41 is provided to attach to the clothes drying rack to keep the laundry dry. The rack may be stored in a vertical position when not in use. <IMAGE>

Description

Title - A Clothes Drying Rack The present invention relates to a clothes drying rack, more particularly to an improved clothes drying rack for easy installation and safe operation.

A conventional clothes drying rack 1, as shown in Figure 1, is fixedly attached to a wall under a window with each of a plurality of rod positioning rings 2 being respectively in alignment with each of a corresponding plurality of rod-resting seats 3. The hod-resting seats are adjacent to the portion of the clothes drying rack 1 which is attached to the wall.

In use, wet clothes are hung on the rods 4 before the rods 4 are passed through the rod-positioning rings 2 by a user standing by the window and holding one side of the rods 4 with wet clothes and resting the other side of the rods 4 on their rod-resting seats 3, or by passing each rod 4 through its rod-positioning ring 2 and resting on its rod-resting seat 3, the user then arranges the wet clothes on the rods 4.

The ways mentioned above are not only inconvenient but also unsafe. Holding a rod of wet clothes is clumsy. It is unsafe, because the clothes or objects may fall down and hit any person passing by. Again, when the user is trying to pass a rod with wet clothes through the rod-positioning rings 2 or to take back dry clothes, he may lose his balance.

Moreover, the conventional clothes drying rack 1 must be installed from the outside of the building. Workers would have to first erect scaffolding before installation, with resultant high costs and dangers to the workers and pedestrians below.

An object of the invention is to provide a retractable clothes drying rack which is safe in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a retractable clothes drying rack in which laundry can be kept dry from the rain.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a clothes rack according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a clothes rack in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the lateral member, carrier sleeve, guide rod and pivot assembly of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lateral member, pivot assembly and shaft of the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, Figure 5 is a schematic drawing showing operation of the carrier sleeve and shaft of the rack illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, Figure 6 is a view of a coat hanger for use with the clothes drying rack, Figure 7 is a side view of the mounting assembly for the clothes drying rack of the preferred embodiment with the clothes drying rack unmounted, and Figure 8 is a side view of the mounting assembly for the clothes drying rack of the preferred embodiment with the clothes drying rack mounted.

Referring to Fig. 2, a retractable clothes drying rack comprises a pair of elongate longitudinal members lia and lib, a pair of elongate lateral members 12a and 12b, a plurality of pivot assemblies 20, a plurality of rod assemblies 30, a pair of wall mounts 34 and a cover assembly 40.

The elongate longitudinal members lla and lib and lateral members 12a and 12b, made from aluminum extrusions are releaseably attached together to define a rectangular frame 10.

The elongate lateral members 12a and 12b, forming opposite sides of the rectangular frame 10 and parallel to a mounting wall, are of a constant cross section defined by an impenetrable central tube 12al, as shown in Fig. 3. A plurality of ribs 12a2, being formed on the outer circumference of the central tube 12al, extend outwardly in roughly radial directions and terminate in outer slats 12a3 respectively. Each rib 12a2 has two side walls 12a4 and each slat 12a3 has two inner walls 12a5. By this means, the outer slats 12a3, ribs 12a2, and central tube 12al define one or more open reentrant cavities 12a6 which run along the length of the elongate lateral members 12a and 12b, as shown in Fig. 4.The elongate longitudinal members lla and lib may adopt the same structure as the elongate lateral members 12a and 12b or be simply elongate cylindrical shapes.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the pivot assemblies 20 are disposed within the reentrant cavity 12a6 with the opening of the reentrant cavity 12a6 facing upwards. Each pivot assembly 20 includes a bracket 21, a securing block 22, a stainless steel fastening bolt 23, a stainless steel retaining axle 24 and a mounting clip 25. The bracket 21 has at its bottom a fastening hole 211 respective to a securing hole 221 which is formed on the securing block 22, and an axle hole 212 formed on each respective side wall being in alignment with each other. Each bracket 21 is opposite from a respective counting clip 25. Each cavity 12a6 conforms substantially in shape with arc segments of a central tube 12al.The securing block 22, substantially conforming in shape with the arc segment of the central tube 12al, can be rotatingly inserted into the reentrant cavity 12a6 of the elongate lateral member 12a. The fastening bolts 23 are permitted to respectively pass through the fastening hole 211 and screwed to the securing screw hole 221 and abut against the central tube 12al. Thereby, the pivot assembly 20 is fastened to the elongate lateral member 12a, such that the rod assemblies 30 can be rotated left and right along the axis of the fastening hole 211. Also, the distance between each rod assembly can be adjusted by selectively positioning the pivot assemblies 20 along the reentrant cavity 12a6 of the elongate lateral member 12a.

Referring to Fig. 2 and 5, each elongate longitudinal members Ila and llb has one end extending outwards behind respective elongate lateral members 12a and 12b, for insertion into two holding tubes 341 of the wall mounts 34 respectively.

The two holding tubes are made to incline at a 15 degree angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The elongate lateral member 12b adjacent to the wall mounts 34 is connected with the mounting clips 25 with the openings of the mounting clips 25 facing upwards. Opposite from and parallel to the elongate lateral member 12b, the pivot assemblies 20 of the elongate lateral member 12a are respective to and in alignment with the mounting clips 25.

Each rod assembly 30 has a guide rod 31, a shaft 32 and a carrier sleeve 33. The guide rod 31, being hollow of shape, has a retaining hole 311 and a PVC retaining cushion 312 at one side in proximity to the elongate lateral member 12b. The retaining hole 311, respective to and in alignment with the axle holes 212 of the bracket 21, is permitted for the retaining axle 24 passing therethrough and holding the guide rod 31 in position, so that the rod assembly 30 can be pivoted up and down about the axis of the axle holes 212. Shafts 32, being positioned within the guide rod 31 at its two respective ends, is a solid rod for reinforcing its load bearing capability. The carrier sleeve 33, being hollow in shape, has an attachment fin 331 extending outwardly from its outer circumference. A plurality of carrier holes 332 formed on the attachment fin 331 is slightly shorter than the length between the two elongate lateral members 12a and 12b.

The carrier holes 332 are for clothes hangers to be hung therewithin. Both ends of the attachment fin 331 curve outwardly from the juncture of the outer circumference of the carrier sleeve 33 and the attachment fin 331 to form two stopping ends 334a and 334b, preventing lateral pivoting of the rod assembly 30. When the carrier sleeve 33 is inserted over the guide rod 31 and placed between the elongate lateral members 12a and 12b, the carrier sleeve 33 is secured in the position with which the attachment fin 331 facing downwards by the stopping ends 334a and 334b pushing against the elongate lateral members 12a and 12b. Inside the carrier sleeve 33, a PVC stopping ring 333 is formed on its inner periphery at a predetermined distance.The diameter of the guide rod 31 is slightly smaller than that of the carrier sleeve 33, and this permits the guide rod 31 to be disposed within the carrier sleeve 33 and the rod assembly 30 to be retractable.

When the carrier sleeve 33 is stretched out along the guide rod 31, the carrier sleeve 33 and the guide rod 31 will not be contacted with each other because of the fact that the stopping ring 333 is supporting the guide rod 31 and the retaining cushion 312 is supporting the carrier sleeve 33 while sliding.

Moreover, both the carrier sleeve 33 and guide groove 31 are made of plastic so that the sliding motion will be smooth and require little force.

The guide rod 31 is longer than the distance between the two elongate lateral members 12a and 12b, and that permits its one side in proximity to the wall and the wall mounts 34 to be inserted into the mounting clip 25. When the guide rod 31 is taken out from the mounting clip 25, the carrier sleeve 33 then can be stretched out very smoothly and without much resistance, above the elongate lateral member 12a and moved toward the window where the user is standing. Finally, the carrier sleeve 33 is stopped by its stopping ring 333 pushing against the retaining cushion 312 after stretching out a certain distance inside the house, so that the user can hang clothes with the hanging frame in the carrier holes 332 of the carrier sleeve 33 inside the house to ensure safety.Moreover, because the rod assembly 30 can be rotated up and down or left and right, it is more convenient for the user to operate.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 5 again, the cover assembly 40 comprises a spool 41, a pair of spool supports 42a and 42b, a roll of awning cover 43 and a pair of positioning tabs 44a and 44b. The awning cover is made of water impermeable material.

Opposite from one side of the elongate longitudinal members lia and lib which are inserted into the holding tubes 341, the spool supports 42a and 42b are respectively attached to the other side of the elongate longitudinal members lia and lib. The spool 41 is fastened to the spool supports 42a and 42b above the elongate lateral member 12b with both its ends. The spool 41 is affixed to the awning cover 43 whose front corners are connected with the positioning tabs 44a and 44b. The middle front edge of the awning cover 43 is formed a string hole 45 for a string 46 to be connected therewith. By pulling the string 56, the awning cover 43 is then stretched opened.

The clothes hanger as mentioned above, shown in Fig. 6 comprises a hook 53, a shoulder frame 52, and a catch 54 joined together by a coupler 51. The coupler consists of a center tube 512 attached on either side to left tube 511 and right tube 512, respectively. The shoulder frame 52 is an aluminum wire bent to a shape approximating an obtuse isosceles triangle with its two sloping sides terminating in a left end 521 and right end 522, respectively. The left end 521 and right end 522 are forceably inserted into respective left tubes 511 and right tubes 512 of the coupler 51, to secure the shoulder frame 52 to the coupler.

The aluminum hook 53 shaped rather like a question mark, has its lower attachment end inserted through the center tube 512 of the coupler 51, after which the protruding end thereof is expanded by stamping to rotatably secure the hook 53 to the coupler. An arcuate catch wire 54 is inserted on one end into a groove 533 formed on the side of the hook 53. The other end of the catch wire 54 terminates in a loop which impinges on the curved end 532 of the hook 53, whereby, the curved end 532 of the hook 53 can be inserted through a carrier hole 532, attaching the clothes hanger to the rod assembly 30. The clothes hanger cannot come free from the rod assembly 30 until the catch wire 54 is manually pressed inwards and the curved end 532 of the hook 53 is withdrawn from the carrier hole 332.

Especially in Hong Kong, buildings of the Home Ownership Scheme Center and Public Housing, have already provided, several externally mounted holder tubes below a window or ledge for the insertion of clothes support rods thereof. As previously mentioned, the support rods and articles of clothing are easily dropped leading to much danger and inconvenience. According to the present invention, a clothes drying rack can be directly attached to the holder tubes.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the clothes drying rack can be conveniently and safely installed onto the two wall mounts 100a and lOOb with the aid of externally mounted rope pulleys 101 and 102 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A rope 105 is passed through the rope pulleys 101 ana 102 and tied to the eyelets 103 and 104, attached to the mid-sections of lateral members 12a and 12b, respectively.

The clothes drying rack can then be safely slid outside without the danger of it falling. Being supported on either end by the rope pulleys 101 and 102, the frame 10 can then be conveniently lifted and attached to the wall mounts 100a and lOOb by manipulating the rope 105.

Claims

What I claim is:

1) A retractable clothes drying rack comprising: a pair of elongate longitudinal members and a pair of elongate lateral members, a plurality of pivot assemblies, a plurality of rod assemblies, a pair of wall mounts and a cover assembly thereof; said elongate longitudinal members and said elongate lateral members, releaseably attached together to define a rectangular frame, of which the pair of said elongate lateral members, forming opposite sides of said rectangular frame and parallel to a mounting wall, are of a constant cross section defined by an inpenetrable central tube thereon being formed a plurality of ribs, which is characterized in extending out in roughly radial directions terminating in outer slats, whereby said outer slats, ribs, and central tube defining one or more open cavities of reentrant shape running along the length of said elongate lateral members; each said pivot assembly including a bracket, a fastening bolt, a retaining axle, a mounting clip and a securing block, said securing block disposed within each said reentrant cavity of said elongate lateral member opposed to the mounting wall; each said rod assembly having a guide rod, a shaft and a carrier sleeve, therein said shaft being solid for reinforcing the load and inserted within said guide rod which is longer than the distance between said two elongate lateral members, having a retaining cushion; said carrier sleeve disposed between said elongate lateral members and inserted over said guide rod in a telescopic manner, having its inner periphery a stopping ring formed at a predetermined distance for pushing against said retaining cushion, and an attachment fin which has a plurality of carrier holes for clothes hangers; one side of said rod assembly being positioned by interlocking one side of said guide rod and said pivot assembly located at one elongate lateral member which is opposed to the other one in proximity to the mounting wall and said wall mounts; and the other side of said guide rod being secured in a position by inserting it into said mount clip; said cover assembly comprising a spool being fastened to a pair of spool supports above said elongate lateral member which has said bracket, securing block, fastening bolt and retaining axle, said spool being affixed to a scroll of awning cover having two positioning tabs attached to its front corners, and at its middle front edge a string hole being connected with a string for stretching open said awning cover; said spool supports being attached to said elongate longitudinal members which is in proximity to the juncture of the elongate longitudinal members and the elongate lateral member, opposite from the other elongate lateral member adjacent to the wall and said wall mounts.

2) A retractable rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate longitudinal members being of the same constant cross section, defined by said central tube, ribs and slats, as with said elongate lateral members; four said ribs extending linearly and radially from said central tube, each said rib being at a right angle with adjacent said ribs; four said slats, each extending laterally and symmetrically to either side of outer end of a correspoding rib, conforming substantially in shape with arc segments of a cylinder.

3) A retractable rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said bracket having at its bottom a fastening hole; each said securing block having a securing hole respective to and in alignment with said fastening hole and conforming in shape with the arc segment of said central tube, in such a manner, each said securing block can be forceably inserted into each said reentrant cavity and attached to said central tube by said fastening bolt; each said bracket having on its both walls two axle holes which is in alignment with each other; each said guide rod having a retaining hole being in proximity to said elongate lateral member opposite from said wall mounts and in alignment with said axle holes for said retaining axle passing therethrough and securing the position therewithin.

4) A retractable rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said attachment fin having both ends respectively curving outwardly from the juncture of said carrier sleeve and said attachment fin to form two stopping ends for securing the position of said attachment fin facing downwardly, when said carrier sleeve being inserted over said guide rod and placed between said elongate lateral members.

5) A retractable rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said wall mount having a holding tube; said elongate longitudinal members having one end opposed to the other end which has said spool supports, extending outwardly to be inserted into said holding tube respectively; said wall mounts being attached to the wall with connection means.

6) A retractable rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said awning cover being made of water impermeable material, affixed to said spool.

7) A retractable rack - as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said bracket being in alignment with each said mounting clip defines said pivot assembly which is movable by adjusting each said fastening bolt.

8)A retractable clothes drying rack substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.